Improvement in coal-elevatoe afid distributee



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HENRY C. CLARK ANl) ROBERT B. LlTTLltl, Ol." PRVlDENCE, RHODE TSLAND..

Lr'tm's Patent 1Y0. 69,407, tlatcol October l, 1867.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CO'NGERN:

v Bc it known that we, HENRY C. CLARE and ROBERT B. LITTLE, of Providence, in the county of Providence, and State ot' Rhode Island, have invented a new and improved Coal-Elevator and Distributor; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof', which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the saine, reference being` had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l represents a side elevation partly in section of our improved elevator and distributor.

Figure 2 is a plan or top view ofthe same.

Figure 3 is a detail vertical section, taken on the line :v x, iig. 1.

Similar letters oi` reference indicate like parts. i

This invention relates to a new device whereby coal or other articles can bc conveyed from a vessel or other receptacle to any particular one of a number ot' departments, whence they can be dumped into carts or cars, if desired. All this can be done without any manual labor except the opening ofthe traps through which the coal is to be dumped.

The invention consists, first, in the use of' a folding extension of the track upon which the truck from which the bucket is suspended is running. This extension is hinged to the main frame of the Structure at the edge of the water, and is braced so as to be suspended over water, and so that the truck can be brought over vessels of any desiredbrcadth. This extension track can be folded against the side of the dock or structure when the apparatus is not to be used.

The invention consists, second, in the arrangement of the departments or pockets into which the coal is brought from the vessel. These pockets are, as far as possible, arranged under the track of the elevator, and

have openings directly below the same, through which the coal can be dumped directly into the pockets. All those pockets that cannot be arranged below the track can be reached by a distributor or revolving trough, into which the coal is dumped, and by which it is conducted to any one of the pockets.

The invention consists, thirdly, in the arrangementand construction of the aforesaid distributor, which is made in sections, ono hinged to the other, so that the angle of inclination of any one ofthe sections may be varied at pleasure7 according to the inclination necessary for the kind of material passing over it. In the bottom of the distributor are t'raploors, by which the material can be conveyed to pockets, which are not so' far from the end ofthe track as those pockets which are reached by the end ofthe distributor.

The invention consists also in the arrangement of trap-doers at the under side of the pockets, through which the coal can be let out into carts, cars, or other convcyances, which are brought under the pockets.

The invention consists, finally, in the arrangement of adjustable stops, which can be set at any desired.. portion of the rails,l sothat the truck will be stopped in its downward course above any particular spot wherever the coal to be elevated is held.

A represents wooden, stone, or niet-al framework for supporting and holding the structure in which the pockets B B are contained for holding the grain or other material. These pockets should be arranged far enough. above the ground to allow the passage of wagons or cars below, which can receive the contents of the pockets through trap-doors C provided in the bottom of the latteg. These traps arc made as shown more particularly in fig. 3. An inclined board or screen, o., is fitted to the under side of the bottom b ofthe apartment or pocket. n the latter is a hole, c, through which the contents fall upon the said inclined board a. A plate, d, is hinged to the surface of the latter, and is connected with a rope, e, that passes over a pulley, f, as shown. By pulling this rope the plate Z will be inserted between the plate d and the bottom 5 of the pocket, and will thereby prevent the escape over the screen of the contents of the pocket. When the rope c is slackened, the plate (l falls upon the screen, andthe coal or other material will be free to escape from the pocket as long as the plate el is thus let down. The various pockets or departments B B are separated from each other by partitions D, oi' suitable material and construction. The coal is brought into them througlrholcs g arranged in their covers E. An elevated track, F, which may be partly inclined and partly level, or only inclined, is supported upon posts L zv above the departments B. Its lower end is above the end of the whole structure, and if the latter is erected close to the waters edge, it may be frenuentlv found desirable to continue the track so that the truck,

from which the bucket is suspended, may be brought over the hatch of the vessel,A Such an extension would necessarily have to be so arranged that it can be moved out ofthe way when not used for elevating coal or other material from vessels.v For this purpose we have arranged a folding extension, G, which consists of four longitudinal bars, zz'and jj, the former forming the extension of the track F, while the latter are horizontal braces, connecting the en ds of the rails z' with the side of the building. The front or outer ends ofthe bars andj are connected with a crossbar or plate, m, by means of pins n 1t passing through slots, as shown. The bars z', as well as the hars j', are hinged to the sides of the building,n as is clearly shown in fig. l. Chains R R serve to strengthen the extension, while chains ZZ, which connect the sides with the building, (fig. 2,) Aserve to hohl the extension in position when it is to be used. By urihitching one of the .chains Z the extension G can be folded against the side of the building, as shown by red lines in tig. 2. The bar m will thereby also be laid against the building,`owing to the slots through which the pins n pass, so that the whole extension G will be completely out of the way. o a are adjustable bolsters fitted upon. the rals'F or G, and secured to the same by means of screws, as shown. Their object is to stop the truck H, so that the same cannot be lowered further. f The bol sters can be moved on the track, so that the truck can stop over-` any particularl spot. Those departments B which are under the track F have their openings below the same, so that the bucket can be dumped when directly over one of those holes by any suitable apparatus. But those departments that are not under the track F must receive their charge by the aid of troughs which reach from under the track to their holes. This would require as many troughs as there are departments, and for simplifying the construction of the whole apparatus we have provided one' revolving trough, which, when long enough, can be made to feed any number of departments. This trough J is fitted either around a stationary or on a revolving upright post, I, which has its beurings in the frame A. In the bottom of the trough are doors p, which can be opened at will, to discharge the load before it reaches the end of the trough, if desired. The trough, which is inclined, as shown, is made of a number of pieces that are hinged together, for the purpose of varying at will the angle of inclination, The upper receiving end of the trough J is below the highest or extreme inner c nd of the track F, and the bucket p that is suspended from tlle truck H is discharged by being dumped into a hopper, K, as is indicated in fig. l. The truck is operated by a rope, L, from an engine or other suitable hoisting apparatus.

Ilavingthus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A coalelevator, which is`arranged substantially as herein shown and described, so that coal or other materialcanbc-raised from the hold of a vessel and discharged into any desired one of a number of temporary compartments or pockets, and be discharged from the latter into cars or carts ready for delivery to families, all without requiring any manual labor except what isrcquired for raising or lowering the necessary doors or traps, as set forth.

2. The extension rails G, when hinged to the ends of the rails F, so that they can be folded out of thc way, substantially as set forth. l

3. The adjustable holsters o o, when arranged as set forth, for the purpose specified.

4. The revolving trough J, when arranged in combination with the rails F F of an elevator, and with the chambers B B, substantially as herein shown and described.

i 5. The revolving trough J, when provided with trap-doors 79, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and described.

(i. The device for regulating the discharge of the Coal or other materialv from the pockets or chambers '13,v consisting of the screen or board a, in combination with the hinged plate d and with the cord e, all made and operating substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and described.

'7. The folding extension G, when made as set forth, arranged in relation with the adjustable holsters o, stationary track F, and flexible revolving trough J, all made and operating substantially as and for thc purpose herein shown and described.

HENRY c. CLARK,

-ROBERT B. LITTLE.

Witnesses:

HENRY G. TUCKER, SAM. B. SWAN. 

